Tag Archives: marathon

My love of running began in the late 1990’s, but it wasn’t until 2011 that I ran my first 5k. Admittedly, it had been a few years since I had run regularly and getting through more than one mile was more than challenging. On top of that, I was also nursing my youngest, who was eight months old at the time.

My finish time would not have passed an Army physical fitness test, but I was overjoyed just to finish. I walked away from this event with a renewed passion for running. Four months later, I found myself in a regular running routine and often surfing the internet looking for local races.

Since May 2011, I have run several 5ks, 10ks, four half marathons, and one full marathon. I have run races with my kids in a double jogging stroller, I have raced dressed up, and I have raced on hot days and races where it was pouring rain. Currently, my favorite distance is half marathon.

More than a year ago, I had a few friends tell me about Half Fanatics and told me to apply. I finally got around to getting my membership application in this week and am anxiously awaiting my Half Fanatics member number. I have qualified for the first level- Neptune (one moon). Am I already looking at races so that I can move up to the next level in the Half Fanatic hierarchy? Of course I am!

In honor of National Running Day I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on my love of running. First off, don’t confuse my love of running with being able to run fast. Being faster than a turtle has never been a goal.

My love of running began just after I graduated high school and happened as a result of snowboarding. After graduation, I moved to a mountain resort to work, play, and be a sponsored snowboarder. During a backcountry hike one day I realized that I did not have the stamina nor the endurance to keep up with the rest of my team. I realized I needed to pick it up a notch and decided on a whim to go for a run with my partner in crime, aka “Gizmo,” the best Siberian Husky that ever lived (so I might be a little biased). That first torturous mile felt good for about 20 steps and the rest of the time I was miserable. The joyful 20 steps kept me coming back for more.

Those 20 joyful steps turned into a regular ritual 3-5 times a week, running for 30 -45 minutes. When I joined the Army, it was during the runs that I found peace, my mind grew quiet, and I would take in the early morning smells, and the sunrises through the trees.

After serving my country I continued to run, but much less often due to school, work demands, and pregnancy. In 2011, I rediscovered my love of running and did my first 5k. Since then, I have run in several 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, one full marathon and discovered triathlon and mud runs.

I have run along the beaches on the Pacific Coast, through the snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, in deserts of Southern California, along the Atlantic Coast in Florida. My running journey has taken me through adventures in Arizona, South Carolina, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii. During my runs I have seen sunrises, sunsets, bears, deer, elk, rabbits, snakes, dolphins, jellyfish, other runners, famous people, dogs, things that have made me smile and things that have made me cry.

Today, I run to beat the odds that are stacked against me: sickness, failure, and those that expect me to quit. I run to be a role model for my two little girls. I run to find my quiet place. I run to keep my sanity. I run because it is a gift to be able to run. I run because I can.